For more than 40 years, LNG has been bought and sold around the globe. LNG is a mature, world-wide industry that is on the brink of tremendous expansion.

In 2007, 17 countries imported 172.4 million tonnes (8.7 Tcf) of LNG. As of early 2007, LNG-importing countries had a combined annual regasification capacity of over 300 milllion tonnes (15.2 Tcf). Three countries in the Pacific Basin – Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan – accounted for 58% of global LNG imports in 2007.  These countries generally depend on LNG for 90 per cent or more of their natural gas needs. In the Atlantic Basin - France and Spain acount for 70% of Europe's LNG imports.

Eight European countries received 24% of global imports, while the United States imported 9%. Japan has long been the world’s largest LNG consumer, importing 67 million tonnes (3.4 Tcf) in 2007. However, the Japanese share of the global LNG trade has fallen steadily from 66% in 1990 to 48% in 2002 to 38% in 2007.

The number of countries installing the infrastructure necessary to accept LNG imports is also increasing. China, Canada, and Mexico all have their first LNG import terminals now completed or under construction; and Germany, Poland, Croatia, Singapore, and Chile are among the other countries considering their first regasification terminals.